A 10-year-old girl whose family was supported by a charity when her little sister died has inspired her school to raise more than £1,000 for the cause.

Each year, Firside Junior School, in Hellesdon, holds a fundraising week and asks its pupils to nominate worthy charities.

Last year, they raised more than £1,000 for the neonatal intensive care unit at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital after a pupil, whose mother works there, told teachers about the amazing work it does.

When youngsters were asked to pick a cause this year, 10-year-old Keira Leggett wrote to head of school Rosalind Robinson to ask her to consider East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH), which cared for her little sister before she died.

In the letter, the youngster wrote: “As you may know, in the 2014 summer holidays I lost my little sister Ava. The doctors never really knew why therefore there wasn’t a cure.

“As well as all the doctors and nurses helping us and Ava through the process there was also a charity called EACH. EACH helped us a lot through and after Ava’s life.”

She said EACH and its Quidenham hospice held a “very special place” in her family’s heart, and said the charity was still supporting them now.

“Although it is a very special place it is not big enough to meet the needs of all the sick children and their families,” she wrote. “Therefore, EACH are fundraising towards building a new hospice which they have called the nook.”

She also asked whether the nook appeal could be mentioned in future school council meetings.

The school agreed the money should be given to EACH, and over the fundraising week pupils organised table top games, a penalty shoot-out, a cake sale, lucky dip nail bar, non-uniform days and even a staff quiz.

Their efforts raised £1,038 for the cause - though a few more pounds are still expected to arrive - a sum which they will present to EACH later this month.

EACH hopes to raise £10m for its nook appeal, a state of the art facility for seriously unwell children which will be based in Framingham Earl.